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SCOTUS: Denying the Essential Humanity and Equality of Women
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Atrómitos Founder, President, & CEO Michealle Gady, reflects on the implications of the leaked draft SCOTUS opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade and deny the essential humanity and equality of women.
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Understanding Stability, Agility, and Distribution of Our Healthcare
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Healthcare is more than the prevention, treatment, or maintenance of clinical conditions. It also plays a role in how governments establish legitimacy in the eyes of their citizens. Peter Freeman asks the question: how is the current health infrastructure of the United States impacting the perception of our government?
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The Affordable Care Act Lives to Fight Another Day
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Yesterday, the Supreme Court released its decision in California v. Texas, upholding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) against a challenge by Republican-controlled “Red States” and the Trump Administration.
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Public Health is the Future
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It’s National Public Health Week, so it’s time that we recognize public health for what it is (our future) and invest in it as such.
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The American Rescue Plan and Public Health Infrastructure
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Last week Congress passed the much-anticipated American Rescue Plan of 2021 (the ARP). Here’s what you need to know.
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The New NC DHHS Foster Care Plan: What the Department, Plans, and Partners Must Do for Success
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Earlier this month, NC DHHS issued its latest Medicaid Managed Care Policy Paper describing a new element of Medicaid Transformation in the state: Intent to establish a specialized managed care plan for children in foster care. Here’s what you need to know.
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A Call to Understand and Expand Medicaid This Year
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In Atrómitos’ final article of 2020, we wrote about the need for 2021 to be the year we address the myriad wicked problems confronting our nation. In keeping with that theme and also given that the N.C. General Assembly has recently convened for its new session, we’re talking about Medicaid expansion.
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The Transition to Coordinated Care: A Marathon, Not a Sprint
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In June 2018, the U.S. DHHS announced its “Regulatory Sprint to Coordinated Care,” with the objective of “promoting” the transition to value-based care by removing “unnecessary obstacles.” But we insist that this one is a marathon, not a sprint.
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U.S. Health Reform: A Century of Groundhog Days
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Months ago, when we started our series on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), we intended to acknowledge an important anniversary (the failure of the 2017 Republican Congress’ efforts to repeal the ACA). Fast forward six months and four articles later, and we are wrapping up the year along with this series; put it down to another thing that hasn’t gone exactly as planned in 2020.
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Thinking Through the Legislative Future of Board Diversity
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Are state-level movements to legislate the composition of Boards of Directors just a fad? We don’t think so.
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Texas v. California and the Doctrine of Judicial Exhaustion
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Today we are, in remembrance of Thanksgiving Dinners’ Past, reminded of the wisdom of letting an argument go and turning to less fiery topics. We will focus on bringing us all back up to speed following the Supreme Court hearing in Texas v. California last week, and will provide our best assessment as to the Supreme Court’s decision in this matter (and when we can expect that decision).
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Medicaid Work Requirements: Who Exactly Are They Working For?
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This week all eyes were on the Supreme Court as it heard arguments in Texas v. California, a case that once again challenges the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). However, there is another case making its way to the SCOTUS that is also critically important to tens of millions of people: Alex M. Azar, II, Secretary of Health and Human Services, et al., Petitioners v. Charles Gresham, et al.
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Examining Patient Right of Access Under HIPAA
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In our last Compliance Article, we supplied you with yet another cliff hanger, promising to return to discuss the Office of Civil Rights’ (OCR) continued focus on enforcement of Patient’s Right of Access under HIPAA. We know you have all been on the edges of your seats and we are back in this segment to make good on that promise.
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OCR Signals Return to Regular Programming with Recent Settlements
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2020 has taught us all something about the limitations of the human imagination when it comes to mid-season plot twists. There are some things, however, that we can rely on and for which we need to continue to prepare. Continued compliance with evolving HIPAA regulations is one such thing.
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Reflections on The Affordable Care Act and the Politics of Healthcare
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As may be expected in an election year in the midst of a pandemic (and following the recent death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the precipitate nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court) health care reform remains front and center in the public debate. Here are our reflections on the ACA and the politics of health care.
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Telehealth Series #2: Advance Guidance on Connected Care Pilot Application Released
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The Pandemic and the need for social distancing has engendered a rapid and exponential uptick in the use of telehealth services. The Connected Care Pilot Program has thus taken on increased importance as a resource available to providers responding to the acute and chronic challenges of our fragmented health care system. Here are our thoughts.
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Untangling the Procedural History and Legal Arguments of Texas v. California
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This week, we dive into the case itself, which is now scheduled to appear before the Supreme Court on November 10th, one week after the November 3rd election. In this article, we examine the case’s complicated procedural history as well as its merits.
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USPS: An Integral Part of the U.S. Healthcare System
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Access to mail-order medications can significantly impact vulnerable populations‘ health and quality of life, which is why we view the USPS as an integral part of the U.S. healthcare system.
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Confronting Another Public Health Pandemic: The American Eviction Crisis
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In July 2020, the moratorium on evictions of tenants in federally subsidized or financed homes imposed by the CARE Act expired. This leaves millions of vulnerable renters exposed to housing instability and homelessness in the midst of a dangerous pandemic.
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New Rules for Hospital Pricing Transparency: What They Mean for Healthcare Systems and Consumers
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When insurers don’t cover the cost of out-of-network care, the patient is “balance billed” the difference between the total cost of services being charged and the amount the insurer pays.
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Reflections on the Third Anniversary of Saving the Affordable Care Act
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The ACA, for all its imperfections has established a framework wherein private and public stakeholders can develop systems that enable for more efficient, equitable, effective, and sustainable care be delivered across our communities.
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COVID-19: Section 1135 Waiver Flexibilities to Support State and Provider Needs
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Shortly after the presidential declaration on March 13, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a set of blanket waivers specific to the COVID-19 pandemic (COVID-19 waivers). Here’s what you need to know.
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Small Businesses and Nonprofits Can Now Apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
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Small businesses that need cash to offset lost revenues and keep their business afloat can access relief funding now through the U.S. Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Here’s what you need to know.
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NCDHHS Provides Policy Guidance On State-Funded Services
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On December 30, 2019, the Department released a Medicaid Managed Care Policy Paper outlining how its Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Development Disability Tailored Plans will be asked to operate State-funded Services.
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NCDHHS Seeks Comments On Changes to Value-Based Payment Program and Two New Accountable Care Organization Models by February 19
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On January 8, 2020, the Department released two Medicaid Managed Care Policy Papers that advance its design of the value-based payment program and incorporate two new Accountable Care Organization (ACO) models into the overall programmatic strategy for Medicaid Transformation.
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A Tale of Two Policies
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A look at new changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and its potential impact on low-income families.
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CMS Releases State Guidance for Medicaid Implementation of SUPPORT Act
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States must amend their State Plan and receive CMS approval of the application for implementation of these DUR requirements.
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FCC Seeks Comment on $100M Connected Care Pilot Program Approved in Support of Expanding Telehealth Adoption
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This article summarizes some of the key programmatic elements that health care providers, associations, and other stakeholders are being asked to provide comment on by the FCC.
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North Carolina Republicans Introduce Bill to Expand Medicaid
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On April 9, 2019, a group of House Republicans in North Carolina introduced House Bill (HB) 655 named the “NC Health Insurance for Working Families Act”. The bill mirrors “Carolina Cares” legislation that was introduced in the 2017-2018 legislative session.
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Ensuring Compliance and Success with Nonprofit Hospital Community Benefits Reporting
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There is a renewed interest at the federal level in ensuring that tax-exempt hospitals are meeting the intent of the community benefits standard. Here’s what you need to know.